y ...... No. 2 Field Battery
[This battery consisted of six Krupp guns, two Maxims, one Gardner gun,
and one Nordenfeldt--an effective medley.]

Infantry....... MACDONALD'S BRIGADE
--3rd Egyptian
--IXth Soudanese
--Xth "
--XIth "

Major-General Sir Archibald Hunter, the officer to whom the operation
was entrusted, was from many points of view the most imposing figure in
the Egyptian army. He had served through the Nile Expedition of 1884-85,
with some distinction, in the Khedive's service. Thenceforward his rise
was rapid, even for an Egyptian officer, and in ten years he passed
through all the grades from Captain to Major-General. His promotion was
not, however, undeserved. Foremost in every action, twice wounded--once
at the head of his brigade--always distinguished for valour and conduct,
Hunter won the admiration of his comrades and superiors. During the
River War he became, in spite of his hard severity, the darling of the
Egyptian Army. All the personal popularity which great success might
have brought to the Sirdar focussed itself on his daring, good-humoured
subordinate, and it was to Hunter that the soldiers looked whenever
there was fighting to be done. The force now placed under his command
for the attack upon Abu Hamed amounted to about 3,600 men. Until that
place was taken all other operations were delayed. The Sirdar awaited
the issue at Merawi. The railway paused in mid-desert.

The troops composing the 'flying column' concentrated at Kassingar, a
small village a few miles above Merawi, on the right (or Abu Hamed) bank
of the Nile. General Hunter began his march on the 29th of July. The
total distance from Kassingar to Abu Hamed is 146 miles. The greatest
secrecy had been observed in the preparation of the force, but it was
known that as soon as the column actually started the news would be
carried to the enemy. Speed was therefore essential; for if the Dervish
garrison in Abu Hamed were reinforced from Berber, the flying column
might not be strong enough to take the village. On the other hand, the
great heat and the certainty that the troops would have to fight an
action at the end of the march imposed opposite considerations on
the commander. To avoid the sun, the greater part of the distance was
covered at night. Yet the adv